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The Celebrity Everyone Likes but God Loves More!

This is part three of my series, but I changed the title to this last post. I don’t want to come across negative, but I have to say what God is telling me to say even if it’s not positive. But please bear with me, because I must obey God.

This morning I was looking at my YouTube timeline and was surprised to see a recommendation to watch a video about Joyce Meyer’s ministry and how she was a false teacher. The video featured a couple who were former employees of Joyce’s ministry. They really had no issues with Joyce other than not agreeing with her Word of Faith theology. Now I’m not even going to open that can of worms, but I do want to say that this doctrine (Word of Faith) has crippled the church to the point where we can no longer hear anything that is not positive. But the Bible and truth are not always positive, and here is how I know:

I was visiting a church back in September and the Pastor of the church prophesied and said: “You need to prepare this month for what is going to happen next month.” Well, my natural thought process was that I was preparing for something good, however, that was not the case. In the next month, my oldest brother died. That was what God was speaking to me about. Certainly, it was NOT positive.

So God wants to warn this Celebrity (because he loves him) that he must make some changes. In this season, it will not be good enough to just keep going as is. This is a season where he must make changes. And if he doesn’t the results will be on him.

Read Ezekiel 33:1-20 New International Reader’s Version (NIRV)

I know people don’t think that God will allow judgment, but I know he does because God has disciplined me. But my calling is to share what I see even if the person thinks I am being mean and doesn’t understand.

I remember years ago, the Lord admonished me to warn my Pastor at the time, to come off the road (traveling in ministry), take a salary and spend more time at his home church. He got fighting mad at me for telling him this, but the SAME DAY that I shared the Word of the Lord, he had several mini-strokes and was out of his pulpit for MONTHS. The next time I saw him, he was no longer mad at me. He was encouraging me about how powerful the Word of the Lord was in my mouth. You see it’s not me. It was GOD speaking through me.

So let me admonish the “celebrity who everyone likes, but God loves more”. This is the season of change. I see him cleaning up his life, living right, and changing his artistry. I see him going back to former movies and TV shows, REMOVING the vulgar content and doing a 180 where his artistry is concerned.  He needs to make clean content again. This next season will come either before a Damascus Road experience or after. The choice is HIS. Listen, this is not doom and gloom, but it is the truth. Read and meditate on the above scripture. PLEASE.

So before I end this blog post, I must say that I know this man is not a bad person. In fact, I read about a very kind act that he did for a couple just recently and it almost made me not share any of this. But God told me one has nothing to do with the other. I’ve read about many kind acts this man has done. I know he has blessed thousands of people, some things have been published, and I’m sure others have not. But this has to do with God’s requirement for being raised up to such a place of prominence. When God raises us up, we don’t get to do what we want to do.

Maybe one day, I will get to shake his hand or give him a hug and tell him how I have interceded and how I have ALWAYS wished nothing but the best for him. God bless you Mr. Celebrity!

The Celebrity Everyone Likes but Nobody Loves Part 2

So why do I say that nobody loves the celebrity who I was referring to in part one? Because I don’t think anyone is telling him the truth about how his artistry has deteriorated morally. Now I can’t be sure of it, but I think that if someone features you in their pulpit, has you on their Christian Television show, attends your studio opening, then they are pretty much sanctioning your work.

Years ago, healing Evangelist Kathryn Khulman got involved with a married man when she was in the ministry. This man divorced his wife and married Kathryn. I read about this story in her book. Well what happened back then, would never happen now. No churches would receive her and her ministry and she ended up getting out of that adulterous marriage because no one would allow her in their pulpit. After that, her ministry soared. The ministry she is known for happened after her fall. But today, you can claim Christianity and live any kind of lifestyle and you will be featured and celebrated as long as you are financially successful.

I can’t be sure of it, but I think the reason why no one will take a stand against this man’s compromising artistry is that he is probably writing some big checks. I know that he did write a large check for Joel Osteen’s church. And sadly today’s church is ruled by the mentally that if we mention something is wrong, then you are judging. How tragic!

I started out watching some of this man’s TV shows and then for a year or two, I didn’t have cable. Later when I got cable again, I went to watch the shows and I couldn’t. I noticed the cursing and explicit heterosexual and homosexual loves scenes and I just couldn’t watch anymore. A few times I tried to give his shows a chance, it was like an assault on the eyes. I know it’s because I am very careful about what I watch, so some people would not have this reaction. My spirit was grieved and I was so saddened by the blatant moral decline.

So I have seen this argument online: The Bible deals with sex, violence, etc, so the shows are no different. But here is the difference. When you show debauchery it has an effect on your spirit. There is a big difference between reading about something in general and watching an explicit depiction of it. It’s no different from pornography. It corrupts the soul and the spirit.

²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:28 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁹ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Corinthians 6:9-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

So what is the problem? The problem is this man’s artistry has gone from edifying to corrupting. And even though he is very popular, nobody is saying anything. And don’t give me that “but he’s successful:”. Porn Hub has 95 million views per day. Pretty successful right? Also pretty corrupting.

Listen, if you don’t attend church, you drink, party, cuss, fornicate and live with your girlfriend, you’re NOT in the faith. It’s no big mystery.

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. Matthew 7:15-20 English Standard Version (ESV)

2 Corinthians 13:5 King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

I know this sounds harsh, but when you care for people, you tell them the truth even if it hurts. God is not going to allow this to continue, especially when the person creating this stuff claims to be of the Lord. A storm is coming to get this brother back on track and in my next post I will share what I see. Meanwhile, pray for this brother, whether you know who I am referring to or not.

When We See No Reason to Change

Last Friday, I was sitting at the bus stop waiting for my bus to go to work and I have noticed that many of the older people who live in my building, congregate at the bus stop to smoke. I think many of them have done it for so long that they don’t even realize that there is a sign that clearly forbids smoking.

Another thing that is so annoying is that few will even ask if the smoke bothers anyone else. So even though I may have been sitting there minding my business and waiting for my bus, I usually end up having to move because someone always starts smoking with no consideration for anyone else.

So, last Friday, someone started smoking and I got up and another man asked me if my bus was coming and I let it be known that I was moving away because of the cigarette smoke. As I stood and waited on the bus, I heard the smoker tell everyone at the bus stop that everyone was trying to get him to stop smoking. But he was adamant that he was not going to stop. He had been smoking since he was 10 years old and he said it was his only vice. I would put his age at between 75-80 years of age, so in his mind there was absolutely no reason for him to stop smoking now.

As I listened to him it was eye-opening. The warnings about cancer and emphysema and all the bad things that could happen to him meant nothing. After smoking for 60 plus years, there was no reason to change. He probably did not care if he died.

The man only walked with a cane and although I know nothing about his health issues he sounded like he did not believe that smoking was a problem. It was enlightening.

But isn’t that like most of us. If we don’t see a problem with our sin we won’t change. We often don’t change unless we see a reason to. And sadly, it often ends up being something negative that forces us to change.

I don’t want to be like that man. As a Christian we should desire to grow in grace and let go of our sins and anything that hinders us from serving and hearing God. It shouldn’t take consequence to sin to make us change. It should simply be the Word of God that motivates us to change.

There are areas in my life that God has been speaking to me about for years. I am starting to put more prayer on those areas because I WANT to change. I am smart enough to know that there will be consequences if I don’t.

The man at the bus stop may not know it, but he may have already shortened his life. Or he may end up spending his last days suffering for years of smoking. I don’t know. But what I do know is that I don’t want to be forced to change. I want to change because it pleases God. No more excuses. It’s time to change.

By the way, the smoker got up from the bus stop and apologized to me. He said he didn’t know that the smoke bothered me. I told him it was okay. I guess it never occurred to him that he was affecting those around him.

Colossians 3:5-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵ So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]. ⁶ Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts], ⁷ and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ]. ⁸ But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, ¹⁰ and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self— ¹¹ a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] ^[b]barbarian or ^[c]Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].
¹² So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; ¹³ bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].

Sexual Wholeness

I posted a small clip of this from Facebook a while back, but the link is not working, so I am posting the entire message from YouTube. Be blessed!!

40 Days to Deliverance

Let’s face it. We live in a wicked world. What people have access to today, would have been hard to comprehend 50 years ago.

I don’t mean to be gross or offend anyone, but I recently read a story about robots that are now available for sex for men. Kind of hard to comprehend this kind of thing. But this is the world we live in.

I recently blogged about a movie called the Wolfe of Wall Street that was pornography with an R rating. Even sinners were offended by this movie. But the other day I was standing at Red Box trying to decide what I wanted to rent, and I saw the movie for rent and realize ratings mean nothing. If a child wanted to see the movie they could easily rent it or buy it.

Pornography is available on your smart phone. Drugs are available on the corner. You can buy alcohol in most groceries stores, so there is no way to stop it. Sin is all around us.

So what is a Christian to do when they find themselves bound by sin? First, we must run to the cross, not just for mercy, but for deliverance. And once we ask for deliverance we must be willing to do what God is saying to get and keep our deliverance. And that is the hard part.Truth be told, most of us want an easy way out, but here is the real truth. There is no easy way out.

So let me talk about me. I’ve struggled with food and weight the majority of my life. But overeating and being overweight has the ability to kill me (and you too, if this is your issue). I am dealing with an illness that is a direct result of carrying too much weight around.

I seemed to be overcoming this area in my life for a while. I went on a low-carb diet, which was necessary because of some health issues. Before I knew it, I was down 60 pds! I remember going to the doctor and getting on the scale and learning I had dropped 25 pds effortlessly. But then I started celebrating and you guessed it. I gained most of it back. So now I have to start over again but the good thing is I know I can do it. The bad thing is it seems hard than before.  I love to eat (food is a source of comfort) and I keep procrastinating in disciplining myself. It’s a dangerous thing. I feel the toll this is taking on my body.

So I sought the Lord and he gave me a solution, which I believe is a solution for many, even though it  may seem impossible to do. God told me that I must fast for 40 days. Yeah I know you cringed just like I did. But I know I can do it because I’ve fasted for 21 days and I’m not talking no food either. I’ve talking a Daniel-fast (fruits and vegetables) It’s not like I can’t eat. Pray for me!

The number 40 is about deliverance and resisting temptation. Remember how Jesus was tempted for 40 days while fasting and praying. The Lord revealed to me that a 40 day fast is the fast that breaks bondage over people’s lives. It will break the yoke of bondage. But guess what? You have to DO IT!. It’s not easy. I can’t tell you how many times I have attempted this fast and failed. But I am still trying. I am in preparation mode now. Pray for me.

You may wonder how I know about this fast when I haven’t done it. Well I have lived a fasted life for years, so I know the power of prayer and fasting. But also, two of my brothers have done 40-day fasts more than once and one of my brothers was completely delivered from pornography as a result of doing so.

So do you really want to be free from sin? Do a 40-day fast! But guess what? You have to DO IT! And so do I!!

Read Matthew 4:1-11

1 Corinthians 10:13

New International Version (NIV)

¹³ No temptation^[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted^[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,^[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.